TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Asian shares rose on Thursday and
European equities were expected to follow as solid manufacturing
surveys in the United States and China fed optimism that the
global growth slowdown may have turned a corner, while the euro
was underpinned by hopes for aid for Greece.

The euro rebounded to a two-week high against the dollar of
$1.28685. German Chancellor Angela Merkel revived hopes by
saying an agreement to release emergency aid to Greece was still
possible next Monday when euro ministers meet, after Athens'
international lenders failed to reach a deal on Wednesday.

Trading volume was thinning ahead of the U.S. Thanksgiving
weekend, but European shares were seen extending gains, with
financial spreadbetters predicting London's FTSE 100,
Paris's CAC-40 and Frankfurt's DAX to track
Asian strength and open as much as 0.6 percent higher.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
built on early increases to rise 0.8 percent to
a 1-1/2-week high, for a four-day winning streak.

Regional equities markets had already been buoyed by
recovering risk appetite on easing tension in the Middle East
and hopes that a Greece bailout will be agreed next week.

Resources-sensitive Australian shares surged 1
percent to their highest close in 10 days as miners climbed.
London copper rose 0.5 percent to $7,730.50 a tonne and
spot gold inched up 0.1 percent to $1,730.89 an ounce.

South Korean shares rose 0.8 percent, pulled higher
as shares in Samsung Electronics Co Ltd scaled a new
lifetime high of 1.419 million won ($1,300) on expectations for
strong profit growth in its mobile business.

The China HSBC flash Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index
rose to a 13-month high of 50.4 in November, indicating factory
activity was picking up and pointing to reviving economic growth
after seven consecutive quarters of slowing. A sub-index
measuring output rose to 51.3, also the highest since October
2011.

"The data suggests the China's growth had hit a bottom in
the third quarter and prospects are brightening for small and
medium-sized firms in China," said Naohiro Niimura, a partner at
research and consulting firm Market Risk Advisory.

While the report was positive, the rise in prices of base
metals, of which China is the world's top consumer, will be
contained given the high level of Chinese inventories, he said.

"But shares get a boost because they are driven by sentiment
and because contained base metal prices under an improving
economy will help companies boost their earnings," Niimura said.

He added that as hedge funds close their books this month
and next, any swing in prices should be seen as more related to
their position adjustments than a change in real risk appetite.

Chinese data followed an overnight report showing U.S.
manufacturing grew in November at its quickest pace in five
months. A rise in domestic demand hinted that factories could
provide a boost to economic growth in the fourth quarter.

"With U.S. markets closed tonight for the Thanksgiving
holiday, investors' focus will be squarely on French, German and
composite-European manufacturing PMIs and the kick-off of yet
another EU summit," said Cameron Peacock, market strategist at
IG in Melbourne.

FUNDS TARGET YEN

Japan's Nikkei stock average jumped 1.6 percent to a
6-1/2-month closing high as exporters were lifted by hopes the
weakening yen would boost their earnings. Japanese financial
markets will be closed on Friday for a public holiday.

The yen has come under pressure since the Japanese
government announced a Dec. 16 election last week.

The opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which is tipped to
win, on Wednesday promised a big extra budget and a policy
accord with the Bank of Japan on aggressive monetary stimulus to
prevent the economy from sliding into recession.

The yen fell to a 7-1/2-month low versus the dollar of 82.59
on Thursday, while the Japanese currency also hit a
6-1/2-month low of 106.26 yen against the euro.

"Yen, I think, is being driven by anticipation of LDP led
government forcing aggressive monetary easing," said Marc
Chandler, global head of currency strategy at Brown Brothers
Harriman in New York.

Japanese government bonds slipped, weighed by the the jump
in equities, pushing 10-year yields up 1 basis
point to 0.740 percent.